Chapter 443 – Lu Feng, Magic Cube

The man was approximately 1.75 meters in height, similar to Lu Yuan’s current height, which was considered medium-short in Duoling.

He had handsome features, with hair that was black with a hint of light blue, and his eye color was the same.

Standing upright beside the car, his whole demeanor was sharp yet composed, reminiscent of a twin-winged hawk poised and ready to strike, exuding an undeniable aura of strength.

“A half-blood?”

Lu Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly as he observed the man’s appearance.

Pure-blood Duoling people generally had hair and eye colors that were black with a tinge of brown, and their facial features differed significantly from the native Duoling.

One leaned more eastern, the other more western.

So mixed-race individuals were relatively easy to distinguish.

The man before him was indeed very handsome.

“Lu Feng meets the Young Master.”

The aloof man, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, greeted Lu Yuan with a slight bow and then opened the door of the hover car for him.

As Lu Yuan got into the car, he moved close to the man named Lu Feng, taking note of his movements, posture, and the faint but powerful mental power emanating from him, realizing in an instant.

This person was not only a powerful pilot but also likely a rare expert in close combat.

Such a person appearing by his side made his identity self-explanatory.

“Are you the one father arranged to monitor me?”

After getting in, Lu Yuan sat in the back seat of the hover car, casually toying with some small trinkets from his pocket while directly questioning the man in front of him.

Lu Feng sat in the driver’s seat of the hover car and did not deny it, responding, “The Young Master is mistaken; Lu Feng’s duty is not to monitor but to be a bodyguard.”

“Heh…”

Lu Yuan chuckled slightly, saying nothing further.

“Is the Young Master going to the Academy?”

Lu Feng inquired.

“No.”

Lu Yuan replied calmly, “To the hospital.”

“Hmm?”

Lu Feng slightly turned his head, a questioning sound escaping his lips, but Lu Yuan merely gave an address and then closed the rear compartment, ignoring the other man’s reaction.

He didn’t have any particular aversion to someone like Lu Feng, but he definitely didn’t feel any fondness either.

Let him monitor and report as he pleases, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his work.

Lu Yuan was now planning to go to the Duoling Empire Hospital, not for his own treatment.

Rather, it was due to news he received from his two followers yesterday.

Xu Mingguang, who took his golden Magic Cube, had already woken up yesterday.

…

Empire Hospital.

High-end private care ward.

Xu Mingguang sat quietly on a bed by the window, dressed in a light blue hospital gown, looking somewhat pale and frail.

A young girl in her twenties sat beside the bed, peeling fruit while chatting away.

“The doctor said you’re completely out of danger now; all your health indicators are normal, just a bit malnourished. Just drink a few extra doses of nutrient solutions and you’ll be fine…

During the few days you’ve been in a coma in the hospital, teachers from the Academy came twice, and the tutoring class called once. I explained the situation, and they said they could help you catch up on a few lessons so you can focus on recovering…

Oh, by the way, there’s this girl named Xiao Yun, she’s been coming by the most often. She was the most worried about you when you were in a coma.

Honestly, did you get a girlfriend at school?”

“You little rascal, are you listening to me…”

Xu Li noticed that Xu Mingguang seemed to not be listening at all, lost in thought, staring into space.

She gently patted Xu Mingguang’s blanket, prompting him to snap back to reality.

“Oh, I was listening…”

Xu Mingguang noticed Xu Li was speaking to him, and he hurriedly explained, a bit embarrassed, “I’m not dating anyone… Lin Yun is just my classmate, so we’re just a bit closer, that’s all.

Besides… Lin Yun’s family is nobility; there’s no way she’d be interested in me…”

By the end of his sentence, Xu Mingguang’s tone involuntarily lowered, and his gaze grew sad and dim.

Xu Li didn’t know how to comfort him and could only say.

“What’s so special about being nobility? Our family used to be part of the nobility too… You need to work hard and earn back the Xu family’s noble title.”

Xu Mingguang offered a wry smile, then glanced around and quietly asked Xu Li, “How did I end up in such a good ward? The cost of a single room like this isn’t cheap. Didn’t the family say they were out of money after paying my tutoring fees last time?”

“Oh, it wasn’t the family paying for this,” Xu Li said, handing him the peeled fruit. “All the expenses from your surgery, hospital stay, and recovery-it’s all covered by the family of the guy who did this to you.”

“The Lu family… I see.”

Xu Mingguang’s eyes flickered with understanding, and his face showed a trace of enlightenment.

As he took a bite of the fruit, he noticed Xu Li hesitating, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring herself to.

“What’s up?” he asked curiously.

Xu Li stammered, “How do you plan to handle this situation?”

Xu Mingguang paused, “Handle what?”

“You know… how you got seriously injured because of that guy, Lu Qiyuan. This incident has caused quite a stir at your school. The school leadership is taking it very seriously and is considering punishing Lu Qiyuan. Of course, a lot of it depends on our family’s attitude. So, the Lu family is…”

“They want me, the victim, not to press charges?”

“Exactly.”

Xu Li nodded.

Xu Mingguang nibbled on the fruit, deep in thought. After the meteorite crater explosion incident, he was engulfed in flames, his protective suit was damaged, and the searing pain of his skin burning was unforgettable.

Despite looking fine now, Xu Mingguang knew all too well how much of his body had undergone countless skin grafts and regenerative surgeries.

How many of those surgeries were conducted while he was fully conscious?

Moreover, when he was at school, as a specially recruited commoner, he was bullied, mocked, and ridiculed constantly.

The pains and humiliation he’d endured.

Now, with the chance to see the perpetrator face some consequences, they wanted him to just let it go?

Xu Mingguang found it hard to accept, but…

“…the Lu family is willing to compensate with a substantial amount of money.

Isn’t it your dream to become a Mecha Engineer? We’ve done the math, and this money will be more than enough for you to complete all your courses comfortably, with some left over. You could even enroll in the best tutoring class.

Just yesterday, our family’s application for public housing was approved. Mom and Dad are delighted.

The Lu family also used their connections to find me a job at a pharmaceutical company in District 8.

You know how hard it is to find work these days, let alone in a place like District 8…”

Xu Li spoke quickly, deliberately avoiding Xu Mingguang’s gaze.

Noticing the tension in his hand that held the fruit, she hurriedly grabbed a tissue and extended it to him.

But Xu Mingguang didn’t take it. He stopped chewing the fruit and lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

After a moment, he finally spoke.

“Since you all have discussed it thoroughly, then let’s just let it go.”

“You agree?!”

Xu Li stood up excitedly at his response.

She quickly realized her reaction was inappropriate and added, somewhat awkwardly, “Actually, the people from the Lu family are quite decent… After you got injured, Lu Qiyuan’s mother came to see you twice. She was very polite and courteous to us.

Oh, and I heard that Lu Qiyuan also got injured and is in the hospital just like you…”

“That’s enough.”

Interrupting her, Xu Mingguang said calmly, “I’m a bit tired. I’d like to rest for a while. Can you leave for a bit?”

“Uh…”

Xu Li was taken aback by Xu Mingguang’s sudden shift to a colder demeanor.

But she quickly nodded and softly replied, “Alright, have a good rest,” then turned and walked out of the ward.

Gently closing the door of the ward behind her and looking at Xu Mingguang sitting alone and lost in thought inside, Xu Li felt a pang of indescribable guilt.

But as she recalled the series of compensations and promises the Lu family had made to them, that guilt quickly dissipated.

“…Even if we make a fuss now, the worst that can happen is Lu Qiyuan getting a mild punishment, causing the Lu family some embarrassment.

But if we take it further, we’ll end up in a bitter feud with the Lu family, making our already tough life even harder.”

“Mom and Dad drained their savings to support your education and pay for your tutoring classes.

Your injuries have already been sustained, and even if we pursue this, we can’t turn back time. Besides, you’re alright now…”

“The entire family has sacrificed so much for you; you should also think about helping the family a bit…”

Standing at the doorway of the ward, Xu Li softly murmured to herself, as if she was finishing what she couldn’t say to Xu Mingguang earlier.

After speaking, Xu Li seemed to feel much lighter.

She took one last glance at Xu Mingguang in the ward and started thinking about what nutritious meal to get him for lunch.

As she walked outside, a figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight.

It was a middle-aged man, tall and wearing a protective mask, making his face unrecognizable.

He was dressed in a doctor’s uniform but was stumbling forward, continually looking over his shoulder as if he was being chased by something.

The strange behavior of the man coming towards her made Xu Li nervous. She quickened her pace and pressed herself against the wall, hoping to pass by him quickly…

“Ha, it must be nice to be rich.”

In the ward, Xu Mingguang let out a self-deprecating chuckle and then shook his head, correcting himself: “No, it must be nice to be a wealthy noble…”

This time, he had nearly lost his life, but Lu Qiyuan, the instigator, was lying comfortably in the hospital with everything neatly handled for him.

Even his closest family members were persuading him to let it go.

Or rather, to let himself and his whole family off the hook.

In that moment, Xu Mingguang suddenly felt a wave of disillusionment, as if he had lost interest in everyone and everything around him.

This included his long-cherished dream of obtaining the Mecha Engineer Qualification Certificate.

Even if he achieved it, so what?

Lu Qiyuan was destined to inherit the family title of baron of the third rank, a status Xu Mingguang could never attain no matter how hard he worked in his lifetime.

And yet, Lu Qiyuan, who had caused so much trouble, received it effortlessly.

As Xu Mingguang gazed absentmindedly out the window, an indescribable and intense sensation of trepidation suddenly surged from deep within him.

“Thump! Thump!”

His heart began to race, and a powerful premonition that something significant was about to happen to him overwhelmed his thoughts.

In a rather frantic state, Xu Mingguang quickly tugged open the clothing over his chest.

To his shock, he saw intricate and mysterious golden light patterns begin to emerge on the surface of his chest.

In that instant, it was as if he could see through his flesh, perceiving the inside of his body.

He saw a magic cube!

A golden Magic Cube.

It was spinning and glowing right where his heart was…

“Bang!”

The door to the ward was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Xu Mingguang was startled and instinctively looked up.

In the next second, his pupils shrank as he watched in horror as a tall man gripped his elder sister Xu Li by the neck, stumbling clumsily into the ward.

A hoarse, cold voice sounded in his ear.

“Don’t scream, and don’t move. Next…do exactly what I say, or else…”

“Mm-mm-“

Hearing the muffled wails of his sister being held hostage, Xu Mingguang clamped his hand over his mouth, terror-stricken as he stared at the intruder and nodded heavily.

…

“Whirr-“

The scenery rushing past the window began to slow, and the flying hover car came to a silent stop.

Lu Yuan frowned slightly, pressing a button next to him.

The barrier light screen separating the back passenger compartment from the front driving seat disappeared instantly, revealing Lu Feng’s figure.

“Why have we stopped?”

“There’s been an incident at the Empire Hospital.”

Lu Feng replied, “At this point, I wouldn’t advise you to proceed there, Young Master.”

“An incident?”

Lu Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

At that moment, a virtual screen automatically appeared in front of him, likely operated by Lu Feng.

On the screen, a woman with an intelligent demeanor was reporting urgent news with a grave expression.

“…At 10:23 this morning, a major terrorist attack occurred at the Empire Hospital in District 15. Multiple explosions were reported at the scene, and currently, confirmed victims include…”

In the news footage, a stark white building was on display.

A raging fire blazed in the middle of the building, with thick black smoke billowing out.

A chaotic scene unfolded as countless patients in hospital gowns and on-duty doctors and nurses frantically fled the building.

“A terrorist attack?!”

Lu Yuan’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Lu Qiyuan had lived in District 15 on Planet Dadu for over a decade without facing anything like this, yet mere days after Lu Yuan arrived, the unthinkable happened.

Estimating the location of the blazing and smoking section of the white hospital building, Lu Yuan silently counted the floors and realized that Xu Mingguang’s ward was right among them.

“What a coincidence?!”

Lu Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

After a moment of thought, he used his personal terminal to contact Housekeeper Victor to help ascertain Xu Mingguang’s current condition.

Victor quickly came back with information.

But the result was no result.

He couldn’t reach Xu Mingguang either.

It was clear that Xu Mingguang had “unfortunately” become one of those affected by this terrorist attack.

“Never mind.”

Lu Yuan paused silently for a moment before instructing Lu Feng.

“Let’s head back.

Also, keep an eye on this incident for me. Inform me immediately if there’s any news about Xu Mingguang.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

The stationary hover car started up again, turned around, and swiftly headed back in the direction from which it had come.